Title: Deep Dark Secret
Series: Secret McQueen #3
Author: Sierra Dean
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Format: eBook, 284 pages.
Published: March 6, 2012.
ASIN #: B00669PIP6
Genre: Urban Fantasy
My Copy: borrowed
The only good Secret is a buried Secret.
Secret McQueen has hunted vampires, werewolves, and every conceivable supernatural menace-to-society. Seen it all? Not even close. When the queen of the were-ocelots comes to her for help finding a missing girl, the half-vampire/half-werewolf soon realizes how much she has to learn about the things that go bump in the night.
The case of the missing cat is one thing. Pile it up with her new duties as a Tribunal Leader, her tenuous position as mate to the king of the Eastern werewolves, and a slew of new (and unwelcome) supernatural abilities, and Secret is once again in familiar territory. “Way” over her head. But for this multitasking half-breed, it’s business as “un”usual.
What knocks her for a loop, though, isn’t her lover’s intoxicating kiss. It’s the missing memories rushing at her from out of nowhere, signaling a rapidly approaching fork in her destiny. Her choice will affect not only her life, but her love.
Warning: Contains a werewolf king with wandering hands, a creepy English professor with nefarious plans, and one hell of an unexpected gala evening at Columbia.
In the wake of two killer books and two even better novella’s, Deep Dark Secret delivers more of the same, an action-packed story staring a top notch heroine. Although this series has managed to maintain its momentum; I’d anticipated something a little different this time around. Sierra’s now an all-powerful Tribunal Leader and yet, she finds herself following the same old patterns and assassin ways. I expected something new out of this installment. I suppose that the saying “if something’s not broke don’t fix it” applies to this series but that might not hold true for much longer if McQueen’s character doesn’t start evolving into her new role soon.
There’s definitely no lack of intrigue or conflict in this story. Secret’s learning to juggle her new leadership responsibilities (both as Tribunal Leader and Werewolf Queen), striving for balance in her complicated love life and hunting one of the nastiest prey she’s ever faced. It’s a wonder that McQueen’s managed to keep her head on straight. The only problem with having numerous, competing plot lines is that eventually one either ends up stealing the show or they start to become one big jumbled mess. In this case it was a little bit of both. Personally, I thought that Dean should have spent more time untangling Sierra’s threesome or having her transition into her new roles. Instead Secret’s still taking down names and kicking butt which isn’t the worst shortcoming a book can have but it also won’t sustain this series in the long run.
I’m still not entirely sure where Sierra Dean is going with this series’ love triangle. Desmond is a sweetheart and if he happens to come out on top I’d be one happy gal. It’s impossible not to root for him, especially when his competition is Lucas. Boy do I hate the werewolf king! He continually makes stupid move after stupid move and I for one will rejoice if he gets off-ed in Keeping Secret. For such a kick ass chick, Secret’s a real dummy when it comes to Lucas. I’m secretly hoping that she’ll lose her temper one of these days and chop off his head. Honorable mention goes to Holden, his contribution to this tale is minimal but I’m not discounting him as a contender quite yet.
I’m ecstatic that Secret finally taps into her werewolf side in book 3 and hope that it’s a sign of things to come. Calliope, the oracle, also delivers a few cryptic predictions that have the potential to really shake things up down the line. Secret’s on the cusp of something big in Deep Dark Secret, I can feel it. I guess only time and Keeping Secret will tell for sure.
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| Recommendation: | Perfect for anyone who loves kickass heroines, yummy men and a whole lot of action both in and out of the bedroom. |
| Like this, like that: | Elemental Assassin series by Jennifer Estep, Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton and Kat Redding series by E.S. Moore. |
Owner, designer and main blogger behind Rabid Reads. Avid book reader, snowboard bunny, video gamer and Supernatural fan. I love all things paranormal, werewolves especially. Oh, and I’m Canadian, eh!
